Ignition &amp; hood lock assembly for automotive vehicle

ABSTRACT

An ignition and hooklock assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a support mounted under the hood and carrying an axially slidable bolt movable between two positions for locking and unlocking the hood. A solenoid having a spring loaded plunger engages the bolt in each position to prevent axial movement of the bolt. A remotely located switch is connected in series with a power supply and the solenoid which when energized releases the bolt which can then be moved axially by an attached wire terminating in an operating handle. A pushbutton switch disposed in the support is connected in the ignition circuit for closing this circuit when the bolt is retracted. Either one or both of the remotely located switch and operating handle may be provided with key operated locks to prevent unauthorized operation.

[111 3,744,285 [451 July 10,1973

IGNITION & HOOD LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE [75] Inventor: Sam Barmherzig, Brooklyn, N.Y. [73] Assignee: Security Techniques, Inc., Brooklyn,

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 131,221

[52] U.S. Cl 70/241, 70/256, 70/283 [51] Int. Cl.., B60r 25/04, E05b 65/19, EOSb 47/06 [58] Field of Search 70/241, 257, 282, 70/283; 292/141, 144, 150

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,543,546 12/1970 Gallo 70/241 X 3,538,725 11/1970 Guenther et a1 70/257 X 722,258 3/1903 Sines 70/275 1,880,135 9/1932 Heath 2,530,628 11/1950 Pivero.... 3,643,479 2/ 1972 Solow 292/144 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 579,742 7/ 1958 Italy 292/144 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney-Edward l-l. Loveman [57] ABSTRACT An ignition and hooklock assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a support mounted under the hood and carrying an axially slidable bolt movable between two positions for locking and unlocking the hood. A solenoid having a spring loaded plunger engages the bolt in each position to prevent axial movement of the bolt. A remotely located switch is connected in series with a power supply and the solenoid which when energized releases the bolt which can then be moved axially by an attached wire terminating in an operating handle. A pushbutton switch disposed in the support is connected in the ignition circuit for closing this circuit when the bolt is retracted. Either one or both of the remotely located switch and operating handle may be provided with key operated locks to prevent unauthorized operation.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures IGNITION & HOOD LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE This invention concerns an ignition and hood lock assembly for vehicles and more particularly concerns an ignition and hood lock assembly arranged to prevent unauthorized operation of the vehicle and opening of the hood.

Prior proposed anti-theft systems for vehicles can easily be defeated if a thief obtains keys to operate the system or picks the locks securing the system. Moreover, when the vehicle is garaged by an attendant the attendant must be given the key to the system. The present invention includes ignition and hood locks, and also includes a remotely located switch hidden in a secret location which disables the system unless operated at the same time the hood is unlocked and the ignition circuit is closed, and more significantly, the location of this remote switch need not be divulged to the parking attendant.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a hood lock which includes an axially slidable bolt to engage a plate secured under the hood to lock the hood. A solenoid mounted above the slidable bolt has a spring loaded plunger arranged to engage a lug formed on the bolt to prevent axial movement of the bolt except when a remotely located hidden switch is operated at which time the bolt may be retracted by a wire connected thereto and terminating in an operating handle located within the vehicle body. A normally open microswitch is connected in series with the ignition lock switch and ignition coil of the vehicle and has an operating button disposed for operation by the bolt when it is retracted for opening the hood. By the arrangement described, the hood locking bolt must be retracted simultaneously with the closing of the remotely hidden switch in order to close the ignition circuit. In this way, increased security is provided to foil vehicle theft and prevent unauthorized access to components of the vehicle underthe hood.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved anti-theft ignition system for vehicles which includes both a hood lock and remotely located hidden switch which must be operated simultaneously in order to permit the ignition system to be activated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft ignition system including a two position hood locking bolt which cannot be moved unless a remotely located switch is first closed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft ignition system of the type described wherein the two position hood locking bolt includes a switch 'for operating the circuit to energize the ignition circuit when the bolt is in one of the two positions.

These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially diagrammatic in form of a hood and ignition lock assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the hood lock in open position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the hood lock in closed position; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lock box and plunger employed in the assembly of FIGS. 1 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is illustrated in FIG. I, 2 and 3 an ignition lock assembly generally designed as reference numeral 10 and comprising a metal plate 12, generally rectangular in plan view, and having cutout portions 14 and 16 which have respective slots 17 and 18 for receiving bolts 19 to mount the plate 12 under the hood of a vehicle. In one corner of the plate 12 is a chamber 20 into which is inserted a microswitch 22 having an operating button 24 (FIG. 2) which extends laterally into a longitudinally extending passage 26 formed in the plate 12. Slidably disposed in the passage 26 is a long bolt 28 having a tongue 30 at one end which extends outwardly of the passage 26 for engagement in an opening 32 of a bracket 34 which is mounted onto the underside of a hood (not shown) of the vehicle by means of a pair of apertured flanges 36 of the bracket 34. The other end of the bolt 28 is formed with an axial opening into which is disposed one end of an operating rod or wire 38. The wire 38 is secured by a set screw 40 to the bolt 28 and is enclosed in an armored sleeve 42 which has one end secured to the plate 12 by a set screw 44.

The bolt 28 has two lateral grooves or recesses 45, 46 defining therebetween a lug 48. When the groove 45 is located in registration with a notch 50 formed in one side of the wall of the passage 26, a plunger 52 of a solenoid can extend through the notch 50 into the groove 45, thereby preventing axial movement of the bolt 28 holding the assembly in open position with respect to the bracket 34 as clearly shown in'FIG. 2.

The solenoid 60, which has a winding 66 terminating in a pair of leads 68, 69, is secured to and supported by a bracket 64 sandwiched between the plate 12 and the frame 65 of the vehicle, as best shown in FIG. 3. Within a tubular guide '70, inside the solenoid 60, is a coil spring 72 bearing against the inner end of the magnetic plunger 52. When the solenoid 60 is de-energized, the coil spring thrusts the plunger 52 axially into passage 26 to engage the bolt 28. When the solenoid is energized, the magnetic plunger 52 is withdrawn axially from the passage 26 so that the bolt 28 can move axially in this passage.

When the bolt 28 is in the retracted position, shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the buttom 24 of the normally open switch 22 is depressed and the switch is closed. When the bolt 28 is extended to engage in the bracket 34 as shown in FIG. 4, the switch button 24 is released and extended and thus the switch 22 is open. The extended bolt 28 is then engaged by the plunger 52 at the right side of the lug 48 as shown in FIG. 4. This will prevent retraction of the bolt 28 from the bracket 34 so that the hood on which the bracket 34 is mounted, is locked.

Axial retraction and extension of the bolt 28 is performed by means of the attached wire 38 which serves as the movable core of the armored sleeve 42, with the wire 38 terminating at an operating plunger 75 which is slidably disposed in a mounting bracket 76. The wire 38 is secured to the plunger 75 by a set screw '78 and the plunger has a handle 79 extending outwardly of the bracket 76 for manual operation. The sleeve 42 is secured to the bracket 76 by a set screw 80 located just above a hole 82 in the end of the bracket 76 where the sleeve 42 enters therein (FIG. 1). The bracket 76 has a pair of laterally slotted flanges 83 which are secured by bolts 85 to the dashboard or other location convenient to the driver inside the body of the vehicle in which the assembly is being installed. If desirable the bracket 76 may be enclosed by a control box 84 shown in FIG. 5 and provided with a lock 86 operably by a removable key 87 for locking the plunger 75 in the inwardly retracted position shown in FIG. 4, and for releasing the plunger so that it can be withdrawn manually to the open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 also shows the circuit in which the ignition lock assembly is connected. The lead 69 of the solenoid 60 is grounded to the chassis of the vehicle: and the lead 68 is connected to a small remotely located pushbutton switch 90 located under the seat or other inconspicuous location inside the vehicle. The switch 90 is connected to one terminal 91 of a usual storage battery 92 provided in the vehicle. The other terminal 89 of the battery 92 is grounded. Also connected to the battery 92 is a conventionally normally open key operated ignition switch 94 which is connected in series with one terminal of the normally open pushbutton switch 22. The other terminal of the switch 22 is connected to a conventional ignition coil 95 which is grounded to complete the ignition circuit.

It will be apparent that the ignition circuit will be open when either the switch 22 or the switch 94 is open. Closing the switch 94 by a key 93 will not in and of itself serve to close the ignition circuit. That is the ignition circuit can only be closed by closing the switch 94 by means of the key 93 and by retracting the bolt 28 to depress the button 24 and thus close the switch 22. The bolt 28 can only be moved axially when the plunger 52 is retracted and this only occurs when the pushbutton switch 90 is closed.

In operation of the system shown in FIGS. 1 5 assume first that the ignition lock assembly 10 is closed as shown in FIG. 4 with the bolt 28 engaged by the bracket 34, and that keys 87 and 93 have been removed. In this position the solenoid 66 will be deenergized, the plunger 52 will be engaged in the recess 46 of the bolt 28 to hold the bolt stationary in the locked position, and the plunger 75 will be retracted in the control box 84. Suppose now that the ignition circuit is to be closed and the hood unlocked. The ignition key 93 will be operated to close the switch 94 and the key 87 will be inserted in the lock 86 of the control box 84 and turned to release the plunger 75. The pushbutton switch 90 will now be closed to energize the solenoid 60 and thereby withdraw the'plunger 52 from the recess 46. Simultaneously with the closing of switch 90 the handle 79 is grasped and the plunger 75 withdrawn. This will pull wire 38 outwardly of plate 12 retracting bolt 28 from the bracket 34 and also depress the button 24 to close the switch 22 and complete the ignition circuit as previously described. The right end of bolt 28 will engage in a recess 29 at the right end of plate 12; see FIG. 2. The switch 90 can then be opened at which time the solenoid 60 will become de-energized and the plunger 52 will be returned by the spring 72 to engagement with the bolt 28. Now the plunger 52 will be located in the groove 45 to hold the bolt in open retracted position with respect to the bracket 34 so that the hood of the vehicle can be opened. Only momentary operation of the switch 90 is required to retract the plunger 52 while the bolt 28 is being retracted or extended. If desired the switch may be a lock switch operated by a key 90a to increase the security of the system.

The system described will effectively foil theft of a vehicle in which it is installed since it cannot be operated unless switch 90 is located and operated. If this switch is not operated the hood cannot be unlocked and the ignition circuit can not be closed. Furthermore if the hood is open and the ignition circuit is closed the usual ignition key 93 is used to control the start and stopping of the engine. Thus the vehicle may be parked in a garage by an attendant who will control the vehicle by means of the key 93 and it will not be necessary for this attendant to know the location of the remote switch 90. g

It should be understood that the hood lock and solenoid, together with the remote operated switch may be used to secure the closure of any compartment such as the trunk or door of a vehicle or the door of a house, etc., merely by closing the hidden remote switch, the solenoid will be energized to permit the bolt to be manually opened.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. An ignition and hood lock apparatus comprising:

a support mountable in the compartment closed by said hood, said support having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said support having a chamber which is open to said passage.

a bolt carried by said support which is axially slidable between two positions in said passage for selectively and alternately locking and unlocking said hood;

a solenoid means adjacent said support having a spring loaded plunger arranged to engage and lock said bolt in each of said two positions to prevent axial slidable movement thereof;

a power supply a switching means remotely located from said solenoid means and adapted to connect said power supply to said solenoid means to energize the same to retract said plunger for disengaging and unlocking said bolt;

means for manually moving said bolt between said two positions selectively when said solenoid is energized upon closing said switch means to retract said plunger;

a micro-switch carried by said support in said chamber and having a spring biased button protruding in said passage for retraction by said bolt when said plunger is engaged in a first position whereby said switch is closed and when said plunger is engaged in the other position, said button extends into said passage thereby opening said switch;

an ignition switch connected in series with said micro-switch for completing a circuit to series circuit with said power supply and only when said button is retracted by said bolt.

2. An apparatus as defined. in claim 1, wherein the means for moving said bolt axially comprises a wire connected at one end to said bolt; a mounting bracket mounting bracket.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising key operated lock means for locking said handle at said bracket to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized operation of said wire and bolt. 

1. An ignition and hood lock apparatus comprising: a support mountable in the compartment closed by said hood, said support having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, said support having a chamber which is open to said passage. a bolt carried by said support which is axially slidable between two positions in said passage for selectively and alternately locking and unlocking said hood; a solenoid means adjacent said support having a spring loaded plunger arranged to engage and lock said bolt in each of said two positions to prevent axial slidable movement thereof; a power supply a switching means remotely located from said solenoid means and adapted to connect said power supply to said solenoid means to energize the same to retract said plunger for disengaging and unlocking said bolt; means for manually moving said bolt between said two positions selectively when said solenoid is energized upon closing said switch means to retract said plunger; a micro-switch carried by said support in said chamber and having a spring biased button protruding in said passage for retraction by said bolt when said plunger is engaged in a first position whereby said switch is closed and when said plunger is engaged in the other position, said button extends into said passage thereby opening said switch; an ignition switch connected to series circuit with said power supply and only when said button is retracted by said bolt.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for moving said bolt axially comprises a wire connected at one end to said bolt; a mounting bracket mounted remotely from said apparatus; and a handle connected to the other end of said wire at said mounting bracket.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising an armored sleeve surrounding said wire and connected at opposite ends to said support and said mounting bracket.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising key operated lock means for locking said handle at said bracket to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized operation of said wire and bolt. 